PL president Valdemar Costa Neto stated at a dinner with entrepreneurs in Faria Lima, São Paulo, on the night of February 23, 2026, that there is no room for a third way in the 2026 presidential elections, predicting a second round between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro. Alongside União Brasil president Antônio Rueda, he advocated uniting the right in the first round and criticized 2022 campaign errors. The leaders also promised to block a labor bill in Congress.
Dinner with entrepreneurs highlights criticism of third way
At an event with Grupo Esfera entrepreneurs in the Brigadeiro Faria Lima area of São Paulo on the night of February 23, 2026, PL president Valdemar Costa Neto criticized PSD president Gilberto Kassab and stated there is no room for a third way in the 2026 presidential elections. Alongside União Brasil president Antônio Rueda, Valdemar said: "There is no possibility of two candidates in the second round who are not [President] Lula [from PT] and [Senator] Flávio Bolsonaro [PL]".
Valdemar advocated uniting the right in the first round to avoid a prolonged second round. He doubted PSD's ability to launch viable candidates like Governor Ratinho Jr., Ronaldo Caiado, or Eduardo Leite, citing regional weaknesses. He also criticized Kassab for not running as vice to Tarcísio de Freitas in 2022 for São Paulo's governorship, and suggested PSD might support Lula in a potential second round due to three ministries held by the party.
Regarding Tarcísio's re-election ticket in São Paulo, Valdemar argued PL should take the vice spot, claiming the largest bench in the state assembly. He regretted the US$ 1.6 million freeze on Vice-Governor Felício Ramuth (PSD) in Andorra over money laundering suspicions, which could weaken PSD's position.
Valdemar also pointed to 2022 campaign errors by Jair Bolsonaro, such as choosing Walter Braga Netto as running mate, who "didn't bring a single vote," instead of Tereza Cristina, who would add votes in the Midwest and among women. He stressed avoiding past vote losses in states like Ceará and Mato Grosso, and portrayed Flávio Bolsonaro as a moderate version of his father, without "temper tantrums," capable of a better government.
Rueda reinforced that Flávio and Lula are consolidated, and the election will be decided by who makes fewer mistakes. He praised Flávio's "light" campaign tone, aimed at uniting the country. The leaders promised to negotiate with Chamber President Hugo Motta to block the PEC ending the 6x1 scale in the CCJ, calling it an economic "bomb" that would cause inflation.
Valdemar downplayed legal actions over early campaigning involving a samba school parade praising Lula, calling the process "absurd" that only results in fines.
